The Stolen Lake (Wolves Chronicles Book 4)

A lot of gruesomeness for a children’s book but I guess that worked for the Grimm brothers. Aiken’s usual taste for the grotesque and phantasmagoric leads to an awkward grafting of Arthurian parody onto an Incan setting in a Roman Latin America. I’ll say it again — it’s awkward.

I am reading this series, even though it is meant for a much younger audience. I think Joan Aikens was a fine author. She certainly had a good imagination. I will continue with my endeavor.

I'm not sure what order the Dido books should be read in - they do stand alone, but it's nice to know some background. The mish mash of distorted history and pure fantasy are held together by Dido's good sense and no nonsense approach to adventures. Joan Aitken's coined words are wonderful and continue through the series. This book is good to read aloud or silently. I am reading the series to my daughter and am thoroughly enjoying it!

The book was in wonderful, new condition. One of my favorites! Packaged securely and got here in great time! Very pleased with the purchase and the quality for the price!

Joan Aiken continues to be amazing, and this book is fantastic! Even better than book 3!

Less realistic and sillier than the wolves of Willoughby Chase. Dido is the only interesting character and the mix of Welsh, Roman and Spanish myths and words is more annoying than creative.

I love how this book series is available with Edward Gorey illustrated covers - that seems to perfectly sum up the type of humor you'll encounter.Sensible young Dido Thwaite is en route home to England on the ship Thrush, when the Captain receives a message that he is to head to New Cumbria - England's critical ally - on a diplomatic mission. There, Dido notices there seems to be a significant lack of children (particularly girls), and everyone she meets seems to be trying to gammon her, looks shifty-eyed, or is otherwise suspicious. Plus there are stories of owls and "aurocs" that eat human flesh, a stolen lake, a long-lost king - it's all very odd. And her good friend the captain's steward mysteriously becomes quite ill. All of which Dido and her companions must solve quickly in this increasingly hostile atmosphere.This is book four in the Wolves chronicles (five if you count the prequal) but it can stand alone, as long as you're comfortable with history gone amuck. It's a bit like Narnia, without the closet - fortunately anytime that the confusion gets to be too much, Dido remains incredibly level headed, independent, and resourceful, keeping you on track. She's a delightful character, while fantasy whirls around her.

This book has everything you hope for in an Aiken novel: joy, melancholy, understatement, exaggeration, mad plotting, forgotten words, setting for miles, and that underlying ability to unsettle you completely--until the next whimsical peril plucks your attention away. It's just so much fun: what if Latin America were really Latin? What if Arthur emigrated? What if revolving doors moved just a little too quickly, wouldn't that be awful? Why would anyone do that? Could you drive them with steam? And how do you steal a lake?Through the fizz of word play and wonderful details, we also see Dido growing up--just a little--becoming more capable, broader, and more emotionally aware. It's unsentimental and lightly done, but it rings true.